Tape Waves #7 - Let You Go

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I've been meaning to catch up with Tape Waves here for a good six weeks but I didn't want just to post something half arsed and I've been ridiculously busy and then recently away lots and even more recently ill, so time slipped even further away. The duo of Kim and Jarod Weldin released their debut album Let You Go late last month via the excellent Bleeding Gold Records and it serves as the finest collection of indie-pop gems that we've seen so far this year.

Opener “Slow Days” lets you know what to expect from the album from the outset, a soft, tranquil combination of lulling drum-machine rhythms, sun-kissed melodies and even prettier vocals. It serves more than that however, the circling guitar rhythm is one of the most hypnotising on the album and the breathy sighs that accompany the track to its conclusion can only fill you with a warming glow.

“All I Can See” is one of the highlights, armed with a faster melody than we’ve previously heard from Tape Waves. it sees chiming guitars race around Kim’s drifting vocal with the next track, the title track equally impressive. Here layers of jangle guitars riffs circle around a precise beat and some wonderfully nostalgic lyrics with the repeated final words of “how can I let you go” sure to embed themselves in your head.

Two tracks re-appear from last years wonderful debut EP, "Ready Now" is utterly beautiful, a breezy melody twinkles with soft percussion and calming vocals and "Wherever I Go", where a surf-pop guitar riff echoes around rat-a-tat percussion and the airy, whispered vocals which blissfully calm and soothe.

I’ll stop the track by track run down now, though I must say I also love the last track “I Can Tell”, more spacious instrumentally with some luscious, cooed backing vocals.

I don’t live near the beach, I doubt I ever will live near the beach, but if I did (or if I was just visiting) then Let You Go is the perfect soundtrack for a laid-back cruise around the seafront, wistfully passing your days with the most sweet, charming collection of pop tracks that never once out stay their welcome. Though, fear not fellow landlocked friends, the album is just as perfect to listen to as you gaze into space lost in pleasant/sad thoughts.

Let You Go is out now via Bleeding GoldRecords. 

Tape Waves #6 - Looking at the Sun

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Following hot on the heels of the a-side "Stay All Night" comes the flip track to the new Tape Waves 7" release "Looking at the Sun", a song that I probably should have posted the other side of the holiday, with it's woozy, relaxing melody and Kim's breathy, haunting vocal whispers guaranteed to get you in the mood to hop in the car and head for your nearest beach...

As the wonderful review at Norman Records so aptly surmises (where you can also buy the release) "They have a lovely sound that perfectly matches the imagery on the sleeve". Hazy, languid and beautiful. Those twinkles at the end - swoon.

Go grab a long drink, close your eyes and pretend you're on holiday. Your day is guaranteed to get brighter for around four minutes.

Tapes Waves #5 - Stay All Night

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The wonderful glow of sunshine that made our weekend's so fine may have departed to be replaced by a bed of cloud but fear not, there's a brand new song by Tape Waves to keep your mood beautiful.

"Stay All Night" is the first track we've heard from the Charleston duo since their debut EP (one which I probably should point out that I helped to re-issue on cassette via my Beautiful Strange label) and marriage (congrats) and it's all sorts of gorgeous, with soft delicate percussion and restrained guitar chimes providing an effervescent melody for Kim's delicate, whispers to leave you weak at the knees.

It's the sort of track that will have you dreamily walking along the road tapping along to the beat - just remember to look out for lampposts as you do. "Stay All Night" is released May 26th on limited 7" via LebensStrasse Records - pre-order.

Tape Waves #4 - Age of Consent (New Order Cover)

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Tapes Waves are a band I now have a working affinity with as well as a musical one after Beautiful Strange released their brilliant debut EP on cassette tape back in September (hint: there aren't too many left).

The Charleston duo return with a cover of New Order's "Age of Consent". A version that retains the hypnotic guitar riff that forms the heart-piece of the track but strips much of the pace and aggression from the track, instead Tape Waves have come up with something all the more beautiful with Kim Hart's softenings vocal coo's soon covering you in a warm, hazy after-glow. Just gorgeous.

Tape Waves #3 - Somewhere

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A quick return for Tape Waves (so I'll keep this post short) with their promised new track entitled "Somewhere", the A-Side to their forthcoming debut vinyl (released via Box Bedroom Rebels next month).

Continuing very much in the same vein as earlier tracks "Ready Now" / "Wherever You Go", "Somewhere" is a beautiful lo-fi pop track guaranteed to make your day that bit brighter with simple, breezy melody twinkles and soft percussive bliss repeating themselves in your head whilst the dreamy and deliciously charming vocals wrap themselves around you like comforting cotton wool - just gorgeous.

Tape Waves #2 - The Horse

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Tapes Waves had me all weak at the knees with their beautifully charming debut digital debut single back in April (if you haven't already, make sure you grab it from Bandcamp). Now they return with a cover of the Beach Fossils track "The Horse" (ahead of a limited edition four track 7" is coming out via Manchester's Box Bedroom Rebels soon)...

The cover is quite an apt one, Beach Fossils fans should find much to favour with Tape Waves' playful surf-pop. Their version of "The Horse" is pretty faithful and retains much of the hazy, sun-soaked melody and jangling guitar hooks of the original but (and perhaps it's because of my much publicised love of a soft female voice - a role which Kim Hart fits to perfection) I can't help but fall for this version and it's dreamy, nostalgic bliss.

That 7" will be limited to 100 copies - one shall be mine I promise!

Tape Waves - New Music "Introducing"

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I've Seapony to thank for this discovery, they posted up the Charleston duo of Jarod Weldin and Kim Hart to their Facebook last week with a simple 'we think you'll like this' recommendation. Sure enough, they were right. I don't have too much more to go on about the duo at present, they are recording under the name Tape Waves, thats about all I need. An empty facebook has just been set up so I'm sure they'll be more all in good time...

From two tracks up on their bandcamp (and available to download on a pay-what-you-like basis) Tape Waves already have that sweet, dreamy, lo-fi sound nailed on. "Ready Now" is utterly beautiful, a breezy melody twinkles with soft percussion and calming vocals and "Wherever I Go" has a more surf-pop guitar riff echoing around rat-a-tat percussion and the airy, whispered vocals which blissfully calm and sooth, just the two tracks so far yes, but two that are effortlessly simple yet so deliciously charming that I'm already hooked, summer, I welcome you.